Callahan said there are already about 30 families who get assistance from her agency who would be eligible for the funding.

Help for home buyers

Montgomery County contracted with Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corp. to administer the program. The agency, which handles similar contracts for Fort Bend and Galveston counties and the city of Pasadena, provides comprehensive service to get people in their homes. The program, which is expected to handle 15 home buyers, includes counseling, home inspections, mortgage reviews and funding.

"We're a one-stop housing shop," said Benny Rodriguez, community development director for Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corp. "By offering assistance, we are trying to help low-income buyers into safe and affordable houses."

Program requirements

To be eligible for the program, residents must meet financial requirements and purchase a home in an unincorporated area of Montgomery County. The income requirement cannot exceed $34,150 for an individual buyer, $39,050 for a family of two, $43,900 for a family of three and $48,800 for a family of four.

The home cannot be located within any incorporated city and can be valued at no more than $200,160, Rodriguez said. Residents are eligible for $7,500 on an existing home and $14,500 on a new home.

Rodriguez said through the review process, the agency won't allow buyers to purchase a home they cannot afford. The application for the program and more information are posted at the agency's Web site at www.sethfc.com.

Rodriguez said it can generally take a low-come family about three years to save up for a down payment, but this program help expedite that process.

He said the need for the program is increasing because housing prices are rising about 10 percent per year in the Montgomery County area.